Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Christmas boom in Bethlehem

The economy may be lousy in much of the world - the stock markets in New York tanked again today - but there is one place here in Israel where business is booming: Christmas in Bethlehem. (The picture is from last year's celebration at the Church of the Nativity).

"Jingle Bells" rang out over Manger Square on Sunday as Bethlehem opened a Christmas market that the Palestinian city hopes will help cap a boom year for tourism with a profitable festive season.

"It has been an excellent year," Bethlehem's mayor Victor Batarseh said, forecasting 1.25 million visitors by the end of 2008 and noting a halving in local unemployment.

"We don't have any empty beds. Two years ago, all the hotels were empty."

Trade in the biblical birthplace of Jesus was devastated when a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation began in 2000 -- months after a papal visit and millennium celebrations had seemed to lock in a rosy future for Bethlehem as a magnet for tourists and pilgrims in a region aglow with hopes for peace.

Eight years on, hopes for a final settlement with Israel have faded, like the patched up bullet holes in the Nativity Church which bear witness to a five-week siege in 2002. But a decline in violence has tempted back tourists who no longer fear suicide bombers and gunbattles erupting in the streets.

"We have witnessed a rebound in tourism," said Khouloud Daibes-Abu Dayyeh, the Palestinian Authority's tourism minister as she toured the handicrafts and festive decorations on sale from wooden booths in the German-style Christmas market.

"We have put Palestine back on the map as a destination," she added, noting hotel occupancy rates were now typically above 70 percent, compared to 10 percent a few years ago.

Israelis attribute some of that calm on the streets of nearby Jerusalem to the construction of hundreds of kilometers (miles) of walls and fencing around the West Bank. People in Bethlehem blame the barrier for discouraging visitors, who must pass through Israeli military checkpoints to reach the city.

Truth be told, much of the rest of the article goes on to complain how terrible things are for the 'Palestinians' because of 'the wall' and Israeli control. But the Christian population of Bethlehem has declined drastically since the 'Palestinian Authority' arrived in 1995, and perhaps this is a hint of how things would be for Christians in Bethlehem if Israel were not exercising security control.

Even with more time, Bethelehem can be a confusing place -- a mainly Muslim city where the call to prayer from the mosque on Manger Square drowned out the Christmas carols playing for the tourists and where palm trees and warm sunshine contrasted with the snow-capped Santa Claus figures on sale at the market.

But for many Christians it remains a moving experience.

Yes, were Israel not in control, Christianity would likely be drowned out (or worse) in Bethlehem. And that would be a shame.

2 Comments:

Funny how my Christian friends don't find Bethlehem a moving spiritual experience, but the opposite. I think it is the idea that they feel the Muslims want to turn the Church of the Nativity into the Mosque of the Nativity.

I was in Israel 4 years ago and was deeply moved by my visit in Bethlehem. I was the only visitor and the tourist guide who confided to me that "I used to bring many people to Bethlehem but now I'm lucky just to bring one or two..." Deep in tears leaving the manger I prayed with this man named Ibrahim a Palestinian Christian. We were both saddened by the situation in Bethlehem and prayed for more people to witness the manger. December 2 report of increase in visitors is actually also my birthday. Sounds silly but I believe the Lord answered our prayers! I'm sure many others prayed for the same thing. This is the greates gift I've ever received in life. I'm sure anyone willing to visit the manger is loved and welcomed by our Savior! Shalom! Praises to our King!

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About Me

I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-three years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 10 to 31 years and seven grandchildren. Our eldest daughter and eldest son are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com